21 Things Only Tall Women Understand (2024)

Reaching the top shelf, walking fast and being able to see over people in a crowd — yes, being tall comes with some sweet advantages. But it's also accompanied by some serious annoyances.

1. Let's begin with airplanes.

Your version of "airplane mode" is attempting to fall asleep just so you can ignore the fact that you've crunched yourself into a tiny seat that is so obviously intended for a body eight inches shorter than you. And just forget about airplane bathrooms.

2. All jeans are ankle jeans.

Unless you manage to find a pair that comes with a long inseam, you're stuck wearing cropped pants no matter what the "style name" on the tag says.

3. Beds are almost always too small.

You, like the rest of America, probably slept on a tiny twin mattress in college. Chances are you were miserable while doing so, and your feet may never recover from being so consistently excluded.

4. And you can forget about lying on the couch.

In an ideal world, you would be able to take a quick nap on your couch. But nine times out of 10, the couch is way too short for you to do so comfortably.

5. You're in the back of every group photo.

"Short people, get in front!" This doesn't even necessarily do a good job of showing everybody — half the time, your face is partially blocked by somebody incrementally shorter than you.

6. At concerts, everyone acts like you're ruining their night.

Unless you stand in the very back of the venue, there is always someone who believes you showed up for the sole purpose of blocking his view.

7. Shorts and skirts are really short on you.

That cute skirt may look like it's just the right length in the ads, but on you, your butt is on display. Not your intention.

8. People remark, "Wow, you're tall" all the time.

You know you're tall. They know you're tall. But for some reason, they really feel like it's necessary to verbally acknowledge it, as if you hadn't noticed.

9. Everyone assumes you play sports.

Doesn't matter if you've never touched a basketball or a volleyball in your life. To the uninformed, you're automatically a professional athlete.

10. It personally offends people when you wear high heels.

You might simply love those shoes, but if you go from 5'10" to 6'2", everyone's suddenly got an opinion on how tall they make you. (Pssst ... we recommend wearing whatever you want regardless.)

11. Low-hanging branches.

Everyone gets a little distracted sometimes — it's just that you're at the risk of getting smacked by a tree if so.

12. It's hard to blend in when you don't feel like being seen.

If you're feeling self-conscious one day and don't want to stand out, it's pretty tough when you literally stand above everyone else.

13. You find yourself slouching a lot.

It's not that you don't want to stand up straight. You just feel self-conscious when you do.

14. Sitting in the backseat feels like getting shoved into a cupboard.

Kids can do backseats. Petite and average folks can do backseats. You? You cannot do backseats. No backseats for you.

15. Growing up, guys were always way shorter than you.

You had a growth spurt at age 12; they got one at 18. Naturally, this meant you got teased mercilessly until those extra dude-inches finally kicked in.

16. People find jokes about your height to be endlessly hilarious.

"How's the weather up there?" *rolls eyes*

17. You're always being asked to "slow down" while walking with people.

Having long legs means having long strides — and basically moving in slow motion if you want your friends and family to keep up.

18. Sitting at a desk is way more difficult than it should be.

Don't even think about trying to cross your legs under one.

19. If the ceiling's low, there's a very good chance you're going to smack your head.

Meanwhile, your friends could jump up and down and be totally fine.

20. Long-sleeved shirts magically turn into three-quarter-length sleeves on you.

I guess you'll be rocking those rolled-up cuffs all winter long, huh?

21. Most gym or locker room showers don't agree with you.

At least it's a solid excuse for skipping the shampoo that day.

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